Apparatus for dispensing milk



Dc. 19, 1933. A. LICHTERMAN I APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MILK Filed Jari. 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l J'pu. i 22 75 JNVENTOR. 45E/MAM Z /c/fTf/P/M/v Byjj \ MAA;

Dec. 19, 1933.

l I l l I A. LICHTERMAN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MILK Filed Jan. 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheut 2 YPatented Dec. 19, 1933 was. sri-rss intiem OFFICE Application'ranqary z5, 1932.Y serial N0. 5ss,777

40mm. (Cl. zei- 74) My invention relates to apparatus' fori-*and methodO of packing anddispensing milk. There has been considerable agitation over the question of the` sale of loose milk, that is, un-

. I bottled milk sold from vlarge canswhich are sterilized at the source of supply and then Villed and shipped to the dealers in the cities. The retail vendors sell the milk to customers in small quantities so that thelarge cans of milk often of time beforeV all ofthe milk is sold'. In most localities thelaw requires that the .contents of the can must be` agitated before each sale, so that the butter fat and milk solids will be evenly distributed in order that each person shallobtain the same proportion of butter fatvand milk solids. The retail vendors usually employ a` dipper to dispense the milk as the clipper can be conveniently used to agitate themilk at the time, of making; each sale. Thedippers frequentlybecome contaminated and dirty, and the Vcansquite frequently are left standing uncovered in stores where sanitary conditions are n ot strictly maintained. Loose milk when stored and dispensed insuch manner and under such conditions has been found to be quite la -potentialhealth hazard. Y'

In most eating places and Aat lsoda fountains, it is quite usual to insert into the can a'manually operated pump, so thatthe milk for'beverag'e purposes can be pumped directly into a, recepta cle. While theseV pumps are convenient they embody anumber of -movable parts andare not easily cleaned and sterilized. Then too, parts of these pumps are plated with metal which is not aiected by-lactic acid normallyl present in mills:V andwhen the plating Wears oil" the'metal which is affected by the lactic acid `isexposed and contacted by the milkand isattacked by the *0 i,zatcticv acid land the milk is .adversely affected. Inasmuch as Vthe pumps do not agitate thev con-I tents of the can theyare not suitableforuse except at soda fountains and inrestaurants.

VThe; use offfdlppers .and manually operable pumps Yin dispensing' milk necessarily placesthe responsibility for cleaning and sterilizing them on theretail vendors who often totally fail to sterilize the clippers or pumps and more often improperlyiclean and sterilize them. .Y v A The objects' of `the present invention include -theprovisionof apparatus of zsimple construction which'canbe utilized in sterilizing and iilling Y the-an-at 'the milk plant, dispensing the milk at-tbe retailvendors establishment, and embodymovableparts within the can for contact stand in the retail store for a considerable period .embodying the invention therein;

4with the milk, but having the parts Ywith which*Y DTV milk comes in contact readily accessible for thor-` ough cleaning and sterilizationat the source of supply. 1 Y Y t Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above character to benused in sterilizing of the can, in filling the can, and in dispensing the milk Without the necessity of removing the cover fromtthe can to expose its con# tents` between the time that the can is iilled and c5 the'last bit of milk has been dispensed, and With-` out bringing the hands or collateral implements into contact withthe milk.

Another object of the invention is `.to provide in connection with a container for the above 7 0 purpose, means for di'spensingthe milk by pressure and to utilize such dispensing force. -for the purpose of agitating the contents of the container from time to time, and without removing the coverfrom the. can to assure eachicustomer receiving proper proportion of milk solids and butter fat.

Another object of the invention is to provide in connection witha container of the above type 'an auxiliary Vclosure which'lcan be readily ape 8o pl.ied.andV s ealedon the Acan to positively prevent tamperingwith the dispensing parts and con- :tents of the container'or exposure of the contenis at` any time from the lling and shipping of the canuntil the time that it is delivered to it ultimate destination and there opened and connected with the dispensing mechanism.

'The foregoing and other objects ,and advantages of the invention will become apparent and will be pointed outduring the course of the follow- 9o V,ing detailed description of a preferred 'ment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawingsfin which n Fig -1 is an elevation. ofthe `arrangement of the partsutilized in the-dispensing and showing 9 5 in'cross' section a-storage tank with a container Fig- -2 isa view in elevation with parts broken laway of a container embodying the invention with the sterilizing attachment applied thereto; 1Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing' the container in one stage of the iling operation;

Fig.` 4 is aview similar to Figs. 2-3 showing the auxiliary.closure-applied to the container;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in elevation 195 of the container-and dispensing attachments with parts broken away;

Fig.. 6 is an enlarged detail view showing the parts as applied in Fig. 4;

4 Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the inner cover; and .1,10

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the auxiliary or outer sealing closure.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to y points adjacent its bottom, the pipes extending' toward the sides of the can for a purpose hereinf after pointed out. As showninFig.l 2,"the screw threaded ends of the pipesl 18 and 19 extend up into the interior of the portions and 16 respectively and are adapted to receive internal threaded caps 20 hereinafter described. There is also provided in the top of the cover a third cup-shaped depression or portion 21through the bottom of which is mounted a 'screw 22 vhaving its screw threaded shank disposed within the depression and being provided with a central bore or opening 23 vcommunicating with the interior ofthe con# tainer. v Y v g Referring to Figf2 the container is shown con'- nected to a conduit 24 leading from' a sourcer of steam, not shown, by the gooseneck 25 which is coupled tothe pipe 19 by the nipple 26 L'and'to' the conduit 24 by the nipple 27. SuchV a connection would be made at the source of supply so that steam ata temperature sufiicient to'steriliie-the can could be forced throughthe conduit 24 and goose neck 25 and-'pipe 19 to thelinter'ior ofthe canafter the can has been washed andbefor the can is to be filled with the milk. vf Referring to Fig. 3,V which illustrates the manner of filling vthe can, it Awill be noted that the goose neck 25 is connected by the 1couplingv2'7 to a conduit 28 leading to the tank in which the milk is contained! A float gauge 29 is inserted. l into the can through the opening 23 'in thfe'nut 22 so that as themilkis fed into the can through thepipe 28, goose neck 25, and pipe 19,- the-fgauge will indicate by its position relative to the/topv of the cover when the milk has reached-the proper level inthe container. rlhecan thusr sterilized and filled is now'ready for shipment andlffthe coupling 26 is removed and caps 20are screwed Yon to the'ends of the pipes 18 and 19 and Yon to the shank ofthe screw 22 to completely closethe can as kas shown in Fig. 7. The can vthus closed can be tampered withfor the caps 20 loosened to expose the milk to diiferentpatmosphericcori'ditions during the shipment, andto preventfthis, I provide the auxiliary locking'rclosur'eV S shown in Fig. 8 andV having ajsubstantially flat top portion 29Y to 'cover the depressions 15,- 16jand 21 and the caps 20` and aY `downwardly [extending curved flange 30'similarfin' configuration/to the flange 13 to engage thereover and havingdepending'extensionsvBl, the lower ends or which areV .bifurcated to provide arms" 32 whichl are-bent back upon themselves tov formkeepers for a'pin 33mounted therethrough andvthro'u'gh the looped end34 on the end of hasp 35, `the lower end of the hasp being bent outwardly-and provided with openings 36 to Vengage over eyes y37 on the shoulders of the-can,l as shown in Fig. 4, whereby the closure may besealed on to the can by running wires 38 through the'eye 37 and securing the ends of the wires together by a lead seal 39.` vThe lresilience of the portions 31 permitsthehinges to snap in below the edge of flange 13 and to be pulled out for removal of closure S.

The can thus sealed is shipped and when it Yreaches its ultimate destination or the place where 'the container in such cabinet for the purpose of keepingthe milk cold. The pipe 41 is connected to a nipple 44 which in turn is connected to the vvalve 45 attached to` the conduit 46 by a coupling 47. .Conduit 46 is adapted to convey air under pressure from an air sterilizing or cleansing receptacle 48 to which the conduit 46 is connected yat 49. `The cleansing or sterilizing medium for the air may vcomprise any fluid or othermedium suitable for the purpose, and as shownin Fig. 1, ih'e receptacle 48 is connected by coupling 50 to a pipe Elin which may be located a manually controlle'd valve'52, the pipe 51 leading to a tank 53 adapted to receive compressed air from the compressor'or pump 54.A l i 'Y Referring'to Fig. 5,'it will'be noted that the valve 45is'preferably of the quick acting plunger actuated: type and comprises a casing within which is the webv 56 having a port 5'7 chamfered Vto provide a seat `for the v alve head 58 mounted on a stem 59 which projects outwardly through theA casingY Vand has -atits end a knob 60; A The valvehead 58 is normally biased or held in closed position' against port 5,7 by' ithecoil spring 61 in knownemanner. f

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, it will be noted that another of the nipples 40 is attached to the pipe 1 8 at one vend and to adispensing spout 62, while y the screw 22 receives the third nipple which is also connected to a pipe 63 similar to pipe 41'and in whichis'mounted a turn cock 64 having'the usual escapem'ent opening 65 to be brought into 'and out of registry withthe passage through the Vpipe whichcorninunicateswith the bore 23 of the nut 22 and hence with Vthe interior of the container. Theturn cock`64-is manually operable by means of-thehead 66. v 'v Itwill be understood that the dealer has 'the compressed'air apparatus and its connections and the air filtering device at a convenient point' in his Ystore for ready A'connection and disconnection 'rio to and `from the container, and that the spout and' pipe 63 with` its turn cock 64 are also retained vby him. With this' in mind,- when the can is=re ceived in the condition shown in Fig. 4, he simply breaks the seal, removes the auxiliary cover S-and caps'20,AVV and screws the nipples 40, which are associated with the respective pipes 41 and 63 and :spout 62,l `onto the ends of the pipe 19, screw 22, l'and pipe 18 respectively. AInasrnuch as pipes'18 and 19are substantiallyjidentical in construction and extent the spout and pipe V41 canbe connected toleithe'r. The first thing the v'vendor should do canto mix the cream and milk, it being'apparent `that as long as'the turn cock64 'is open thel air after passing -through'thevmilk will 'passi out through the bore 23 and pipev 63 andopening-64. The pipes 18 and 19 are flared toward the side of the can'to thoroughly mix the contents by directing the air toward the side rather than discharging it at the middle of the can as in the latter case Vthe air would bubble right up through the milk only at the center. ,Y

As has been explained, loose milk is sold to customers who bring their own receptacles, and Y although it is impossible to regulate the sterilizaexhibit the quantity of milk but also to showk the condition of the receptacle. When a customer presents a receptacle,1the vendor Will use his own graduated receptacle tomeasure the milk and he will hold his receptacle beneath the spout 62, close the valve 64, open the valve 45 to admit air into the receptacle through the pipe 19. Although the milk may have been previously agitated it will be obvious that even with the valve 64 closed and the air issuing through the pipe 19,

there Will be further agitation and at the same time a pressure will be built up in the top of the lcan above the contents to force the milk upV through the pipe 18 and out of the spout 62 into the graduated receptacle. When the proper quantity has been dispensed the dealer Will pour the milk from his receptacle into the customers receptacle. Y

It should be apparent from `ihe foregoing that a storekeeper dealing in loose milk can dispense the same in a sanitary manner, as he receives pasteurized milk in a'sterilized container which has been tightly sealed from the time it was lled until the time of delivery at his store, and which is also closed to exclude .foreign matter after he has connected the dispensing apparatus with the elements provided therefor on the can. It should also be obvious that the invention is well adapted to use in restaurants and at soda fountains in the manner and under the conditions above specified and will obviate the objections inherent in the use of manually operated pumps as there is no wear on the conduits which contact the milk and the plating thereon which is Anot subject to attack by lactic acid. s

It will be understood that when all of the milk has been dispensed from the can the retail dealer disconnects the spout 62, pipes 63 and 41 simply by unscrewing the nipples 40, replaces the caps 20 and the closure S, and the can with al1 of these parts attached thereto'is sent back to the source of supply for cleansing, sterilizing, refilling, and resealing, as hereinabove described.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing milk from bulk comprising a source of compressed air, a container for the milk, a conduitleading fromthe source of compressed air, a pipe in the container terminating adjacent the bottom, a connection between said pipe and conduit whereby air may be admittedto the bottom of the container, a second pipe in the container leading from adjacent the bottom thereof, a spout connected to said second pipe outside of the container'to dispense milk under pressure created in the container by the air, an air escapement port at the top of the container to permit agitation of the milk Without dispensing it, a valve to open and close said port, and a valve to control the flow'of air from said source into the container.

2. Apparatus for dispensing milk from bulk comprising a source of compressed air, an air iilter, a container for the milk, a conduit leading from the source of compressed air into the lter, a pipe in the container terminating adjacent the bottom thereof, a connection between said pipe and filter, a second `pipe in the container leading therefrom, a spout on said second pipe, an air escapement port at the top of the container, a, valve to open and close said port, and a valve to control the ow of air from said source intoV the container, said first valve being operable to permit agitation of the milk by the air without dispensing and to effect dispensing at will. Y Y

3. In a shipping and dispensing container for milk, a cover, pipes carried by said cover extending into the container and terminating adjacent the bottom thereof, a coupling to connect one of said pipes to a source of compressed air, a spout on said other pipe, an air escapement port in said cover, a valve to open and close said port, and a valve to control the admission of compressed air into the container, said rst valve being operable to permit agitation of the milk by the air without dispensing and to eilect dispensing at will.

4. Apparatus for dispensing milk from bulk comprising a sourcelof compressed air, acontainer, a closure for the container having recesses in its top, pipes extending into the container and having their upper ends disposed in said recesses and their lower ends adjacent the bottom of the container, a connection between said source of compressed air and the top of one of said pipes, a valve for controlling the flow of air through said connection and pipe into the receptacle, a spout connected to the top .of said other pipe to emit milk when air is admitted to the receptacle, a vent, and means for opening said vent to per- Ymit lagitation of the milk by the entering air without dispensing 'it and to close said vent to permit dispensing ofthe milk.

ABRAHAM LICH'IERMAN.

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